The atherosclerotic heart disease and protecting properties of garlic: contemporary data

Abstract

This article reviews the contemporary data concerning atherosclerosis and protecting properties of garlic. Recent advances in basic science have established a fundamental role for inflammation in mediating all stages of this disease from initiation through progression and, ultimately, the thrombotic complications of atherosclerosis. These new findings provide important links between risk factors and the mechanisms of atherogenesis and garlic properties. Numerous in vitro studies have confirmed the ability of garlic to reduce the parameters of the risk of atherosclerosis: total cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides, oxidized LDL. Bioactive compounds and antioxidant potentials in fresh, cooked, boiled and commercial garlic from different regions are presented, using beta-carotene, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide (NO), 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) with K2S2O8 or MnO2, ferric-reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP), cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) and others assays for antioxidant status. In vivo studies were reviewed on with garlic and cholesterol supplemented diets. The positive influences of garlic on plasma lipids, proteins, antioxidant activity, and some indices of blood coagulation are dose dependent. Garlic could be a valuable component of atherosclerosis-preventing diets only in optimal doses. Many recently published reports show that garlic possesses plasma lipid-lowering and plasma anticoagulant and antioxidant properties and improves impaired endothelial function.

High Temperature- and High Pressure-Processed Garlic Improves Lipid Profiles in Rats Fed High Cholesterol Diets

“…17,18 Previous studies have shown that raw garlic has profoundly decreases TC and TG levels without changing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in rats fed HCD, whereas boiled garlic has little effect on these parameters. 19,20 In a human study, 21 supplementation with raw garlic, powdered garlic, or aged garlic extract (4 g/day) for 6 months significantly lowered LDL-C and other plasma lipid levels in adults with moderate hypercholesterolemia. Our findings in rats provide further support for the antihyperlipidemic, antihypercholesterolemic, and anti-atherosclerotic actions of processed garlic products because both crushed raw garlic and high temperature/high pressure-processed garlic exhibited remarkable antihyperlipidemic action by decreasing the levels of TG, LDL-C, and TC in plasma and increasing the levels of TG and TC in feces.…”

Research of Serum Homocysteine Levels in Healthy Cows

“…Hyperhomocystein should be considered as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in humans [4,18].…”

The Functional Role of Garlic and Bioactive Components in Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Health: What We Do Know

“…Garlic is well known powerful anti-atherogenic supplement [20]. Many reports have evaluated the effectiveness of garlic extracts/bioactive components in protection against CVD.…”